Lavandula plant named &#39;anouk deluxe 1312&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit; strong durable plants; silvery grey-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; dark violet blue-colored flowers with purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period and strong re-flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 1312’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with good performance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2012 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685, as the female, or seed, parent with Lavandula stoechas ‘Silver Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,068, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in May, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’ as a new and distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Strong durable plants.     -   4. Silvery grey-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Dark violet blue-colored flowers with purple-colored terminal         flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles.     -   7. Long flowering period and strong re-flowering habit.     -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Anouk’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of         ‘Anouk’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Anouk’ differ in leaf color         as plants of ‘Anouk’ have greyish green-colored leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering         habit than plants of ‘Anouk’.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Silver Anouk’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of         ‘Silver Anouk’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering         habit than plants of ‘Silver Anouk’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Sanne’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,632. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Sanne’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of         ‘Sanne’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Sanne’ differ in leaf color         as plants of ‘Sanne’ have greyish green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of         ‘Toscane’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Toscane’ differ in leaf         color as plants of ‘Toscane’ have greyish green-colored leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering         habit than plants of ‘Toscane’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detailed description were grown in 12-cm containers during the spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants were ten months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 20° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Silver Anouk’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,068. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             and becoming more brown with development; actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer type and formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and             upright plant habit; freely branching habit; low to             moderately vigorous growth habit; flowers arranged in             verticillasters on crowded spikes with showy terminal flower             bracts.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 28             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 23.8 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About 65             primary lateral branches developing per plant with numerous             secondary branches. Length: About 6.3 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to somewhat outwardly. Texture and luster:             Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 144A to 144B;             pubescence, close to 157D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Narrowly             lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;             revolute. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Densely tomentose; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic,             pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to N137C; venation, close to N137C;             pubescence, close to 189D. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137B to 137C; venation, close to 143A,             pubescence, close to 189D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform             flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded             terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 200 flowers             developing per inflorescence and more than 7,000 flowers             developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and             three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the             spike; inflorescences with showy terminal flower bracts.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous             from late spring into late summer in The Netherlands; strong             re-flowering habit.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblong. Texture and luster: Moderately             tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 144D; towards the apex,             close to N187B to N187C.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height: About 6 cm. Diameter, at             terminal flower bracts: About 2.6 cm. Diameter, below flower             bracts: About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 mm. Depth (height): About 9             mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and             lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 8.5 mm.             Length, lower lip: About 7.5 mm. Width, upper lip: About             3 mm. Width, lower lip: About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly             spatulate; lower 75% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse,             rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper (inner)             and lower (outer) surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;             matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner)             surface: Close to N92A; throat, close to N92D, towards the             base, close to N155D; color does not fade with development.             When opening and fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Close             to N92A; tube, close to N92D, towards the base, close to             N155D; color does not fade with development.         -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About six             positioned upright at inflorescence apex. Length: About             2.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly tomentose (minute             hairs); matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             79C; pubescence, close to NN155D.         -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of             ten flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.             Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Broadly             rhomboidal. Apex: Aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             tomentose; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 186A to             186B; venation, close to N137A; pubescence, close to NN155D.             Color, lower surface: Close to 186A to 186B; venation, close             to N189A; pubescence, close to NN155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a             campanulate tube. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 1 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper (inner) and             lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 144D; towards the apex             tinged with close to N187B to N187C; pubescence, close to             NN155C to NN155D. Fully opened, upper (inner) and lower             (outer) surfaces: Close to 144D; towards the apex tinged             with close to N187C; pubescence, close to NN155C to NN155D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 144A to             144B; pubescence, close to 157D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 13B.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17B.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             3.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             N92A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 157B             to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 143B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Lavandula. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate high     temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1312’ as illustrated and described. 